Crisp leaves left a pungent smell in the wind, hinting at the beginning of fall. It was heaven, but that didn't mean that it couldn't experience the seasons. Which this usually made Shepard happy, seeing the sights of bare trees branching their dark bark onto the whiteness of the snow. However, for now, the fiery colors around her only reminded her of the time she was missing with Garrus. They always bought a small, fake tree to decorate on the Normandy, and it was physically making her sick that they weren't together. Of course she missed her crew mates but knew that they would pull through. They were survivors and would find a way to help rebuild the universe that had crumbled around them.

Shepard found a bench that was fairly secluded so that she could sit and fold her face into her palms. Tears threatened to spill, but she kept whispering to herself. "Not yet. Not yet. Not until he's here."

It was close to where Shepard laid that Garrus questioned a lean batarian about bars. A quick point in the opposite direction, and Garrus was gaining more and more distance away from his love. He was sprinting and sucking in as much air as his lungs could take. His fists almost broke the door as he burst into the building. All eyes gave him their attention with wide open faces.

"Shepard!" His voice pierced the soft music playing in the background. All was silent around him as he searched the bar, trying to find clues of anything.

"Sir." The hanar bartender directed a trembling tentacle towards a chair at the end of the long stretch of counter space. On the chair read "SHEPARD", scratched into the metal. Vakarian marched to it, determination strengthening his pace. "This one saw her leave twenty minutes ago," the bartender connected the dots, thinking that this was the person Shepard had been waiting for.

Without so much as a thank you, Garrus Vakarian ran hard and fast out of the door.

Shepard stood up and brushed herself off. This wasn't the first anniversary she had spent away from him, she could live through another day. Besides, it was all about the morale of the people around her. She couldn't let them pity her for the rest of eternity; that was not a life well spent.

As she turned away to walk to her apartment, she heard the heavy breaths of a larger man. The sound, it was so familiar. Am I hallucinating? But the huffing became louder, so she stopped in her path, causing someone to collide into her.

"Shit, watch where you're going." A man's sultry, deep voice swallowed every thought she had in that moment, shattering them to pieces. She could feel her heart racing and her palms become sweaty.

So she got off her feet and his eyes greeted her.

Those eyes that were once the color of the bluish-grey of a winter sky were now a glowing, electric green. Throughout his skin Shepard watched green flow throughout his blood. Everything was the same except for the synthesis she died for. Shepard thought long and hard about that day for so long, but just now did she see the effects. Others had died and come to heaven since then, but she gave them no attention until now.

It was like a haze was disappearing from around her. Everything became radiant and jubilant. This was what she envisioned heaven would be like long before her demise, and it was long overdue.

"You-You're." Shepard chocked back her words, afraid to say anything more.

Garrus couldn't believe his eyes. After all this time and here she was. "I-I-I'm so sorry." He reached out to her, to make sure that everything was real. Her skin was hot, soft, and very recognizable.

She giggled and the corners of her lips repelled each other. "I love you. I love you. I love you." She said repeated after each breath, and it felt like she couldn't say it enough. Shepard walked into him, letting her tears finally flow.

Garrus surrounded her with his embrace and leaned his head onto hers. He cried for the first time in forever, in all that they have lost but for all that they would soon gain. "I love you so much."

They pushed away to stare into each others' eyes, reminiscing in the beauty of their lovers. Both of their faces came close again, sealing their love with a kiss. It felt like the softest of fabric and was as warm as hot cocoa on a wintry day.

Garrus rose his hand to rest on the nape of her neck, letting his fingers curl into her hair. Shepard leaned into his hand, granting him access to her neck. Her moans were quiet, but they led Garrus on, begging him for more. He nibbled on her ear lobe, pulling and sucking.

"Please, Garrus," she whispered.

He understood and backed away, seeing as the environment that they were in was very inappropriate for what they wanted to do to each other. They were careless animals, ready to prance on each other.

"Let's spend this anniversary together like we always did, with a bottle of booze and crazy, careless sex." His voice was demanding, but she wanted the same thing.

"Just like old times?" She chuckled, mocking his usual catch phrase.

"Just like old times," he repeated, taking her in his arms, ready to follow her wherever she went.

Forever.

A/N: Let's start off the new year with some amazing Shakarian, am I right? Please review (p.s. It'll get me to stop procratinating)!